
Chelsea Flower Show 2020: RHS announces Garden for Friendship
The garden is designed by Jo Thompson in collaboration with Zoe Ball
The RHS has announced that there will be a new Garden for Friendship at this year's Chelsea Flower Show, a collaboration between the RHS and the NHS, designer Jo Thompson and radio and TV presenter Zoe Ball.

A recent survey commissioned by the RHS showed that 52 per cent of respondees in Britain had experienced feeling alone. Sixty eight per cent of 18 to 24 year olds have felt lonely compared to 41 per cent of over 55s.
Many people said that they garden or grow plants in order to combat this feeling. The RHS Garden for Friendship is a celebration of the friends and connections you can make through gardening.
After appearing at Chelsea Flower Show 2020, the garden will redesigned and moved to an NHS Mental Health Trust.
Sue Biggs, director general of the RHS said: "Loneliness is a key issue that can impact mental health and that’s why personal wellbeing is a key theme of the RHS Garden for Friendship.
“We passionately believe gardening is good for mental health and want to encourage people to join local social gardening groups, garden with neighbours or volunteer in gardens in order to boost their wellbeing and confidence.”
The garden will reflect an urban street and encourage greening gardens, balconies, window boxes and community spaces. Plants features will include poppies, roses, edible herbs and vegetables. Trees included will be multi-stemmed Gleditsia triacanthos f. inermis 'Sunburst' (honey locust) and the lime Tilia × euchlora.
Read all our Chelsea Flower Show 2020 coverage here
Authors

13 issues for £30 when you subscribe
Subscribe to Gardens Illustrated magazine and receive your first 13 issues for £30!
*UK only

Transform your Garden- Special Edition
Transform Your Garden
This special edition features advice on designing your garden from the world’s top garden designers, including top tips for redesigning your plot or creating a new garden from scratch.
Discover eight inspirational gardens in town and country, and beautiful planting ideas for year-round colour. Learn how to make the most of a small space, how to cope with a slope, and the ten most common mistakes people make, according to professional garden designers, and how to avoid them.
Enjoy insights on everything from paths and parking spaces to wildflowers and water features, so that you can be confident in starting to create the garden of your dreams.
Just £9.99 inc UK p&p
By entering your details, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Gardens of the Globe
From botanical wonders in Australia to tranquil havens closer to home in Ireland, let this guide help you to discover some of the most glorious gardens around the world
By entering your details, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. You can unsubscribe at any time.